1) What this is

Not a generic "have 100 buy-ins" blog post. This is a durable bankroll system for tournament specialists across formats (freezeouts, PKOs, re-entry festivals, satellites), with concrete rules you can adopt today.

2) Core idea: bankroll as a volatility buffer

Your bankroll’s job is not to be big—it’s to be resilient.

You’re protecting your career against high variance environments. Think in ABI bands and fractional Kelly: use ROI and standard deviation (σ, in BIs) by format to size risk. Top-heavy pools demand larger buffers.

3) ABI bands by format

Define bands so you don’t creep into higher risk unconsciously:

• Freezeouts: higher durability, lower σ → tighter bands near core ABI.
• Re-entries / PKO festivals: top-heavy, higher σ → expand bands and bullets caps.
• Satellites: distribution differs; track ROI/σ separately and set dedicated bands.

4) Fractional Kelly

Use fractional Kelly to tame variance while preserving growth.

Approximate: Kelly ≈ ROI / σ². If σ = 10 BIs and ROI = 15%, then Full Kelly ≈ 0.15 / 100 = 0.0015. Half-Kelly ≈ 0.00075. In top-heavy pools, prefer quarter- to half-Kelly to avoid ruin.

5) Bullets caps and daily spend

Decide bullets/event and daily spend before the session. Re-entries count as one risk unit per event. Lock these caps in your session plan to stop ABI creep.

6) Shot Roll

Set aside a Shot Roll for moving up with rules.

• Define stop-loss (e.g., −5 BIs) and win-lock (e.g., +10 BIs → lock 50%).
• Return to core ABI when rules trigger; don’t bleed the main roll.

7) Series BR ring-fencing

For festivals, pre-plan Series BR: events, bullets, and late reg strategy. Keep it ring-fenced so it can’t nuke your core roll.

8) Late reg policy

Late reg changes σ and ROI—plan it, don’t improvise.

• Deep structures: arrive earlier to realize post-flop edge.
• PKOs/hypers: late reg is fine, but track the σ impact per format.

9) Minimal daily checklist (do this, print it)

• Pre-session: Today’s ABI band? Max bullets/event? Max spend/day?
• During: Stop after max bullets; record bust reasons; no unplanned “one last” reg.
• Post: Log ABI, entries, ITM, top-heaviness of fields played, key review hands.
• Weekly: Update ROI & σ by format; adjust ABI band if variance is biting.

10) Quick math crib (keep handy)

11) Common leaks that bankrupt good players

• ABI creep: adding one more 2.5× ABI bullet late at night—every night.
• Festival FOMO: playing off‑plan flights/re‑entries “because it’s running.”
• Mixing hypers with deep stacks in the same session: your brain and risk model fight each other.
• Cash‑out leaks: paying life from the roll mid‑downswing.

12) TL;DR rules you can adopt today

1. Track ROI & σ by format; set ABI bands accordingly.
2. Use fractional Kelly for sanity; top‑heavy pools → more BIs.
3. Cap bullets/event and daily spend; treat re‑entries as one risk unit.
4. Run a Shot Roll with stop‑loss & win‑lock rules.
5. Ring‑fence Series BR; pre‑plan bullets and late reg.
6. Cash out above a high‑water mark—never from the core roll.
7. Review weekly; adjust ABI before variance adjusts you.

Responsible Play: Poker is for adults (18+ / 21+ by region). Play within your means and local laws. If poker is causing stress or harm, step back and seek support.